Taiwanese, Briton face drug trafficking charges

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday said it recently arrested a 43-year-old Taiwanese suspect and a 61-year-old British suspect over the allegations of drug trafficking.

The CIB said the Taiwanese suspect, surnamed Liao, imported drugs via a cross-country drug trafficking ring, noting that the British suspect, on the other hand, carried the drugs from Cambodia and handed the items to Liao in a five-star hotel in Taipei.

The bureau said Liao already confessed that he bought and sold drugs in the nation, adding that the British suspect also told police that he was paid NT$25,000 to carry drugs into the nation. The pair is currently being detained by the New Taipei District Court, the CIB said.

The CIB's Fourth Investigation Corps at the end of 2013 cracked a criminal ring that was selling guns and drugs in Taiwan, and discovered the source of the drugs, namely Liao.

After five months of investigation, police discovered that Liao currently lives in Yingge District (鶯歌區) of New Taipei City and just finished his previous prison term in September 2012. Liao has a prior criminal record for drug trafficking, the CIB added.

The CIB further discovered that Liao purchased drugs from a drug ring based in Cambodia, and the drug dealers would "arrange" for foreigners to carry the drugs into Taiwan.

The bureau cited Liao as saying that he was acting as a mediator between local and foreign drug dealers, adding that the drug deals would only take place at five-star hotels.

The CIB said it had intelligence information saying that Liao would pick up the items in a five-star hotel in Taipei on May 24, therefore it raided Liao's residence and arrested him on the morning of May 25. Heroin, amphetamine and cash amounting to NT$425,000 were discovered at Liao's residence, the bureau added.

After arresting Liao, the CIB officials hurried to the hotel to apprehend the 61-year-old British suspect who was about to check out from the hotel and leave the country.

The case is currently being investigated by the New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, the bureau said.